Cricket: Mochdre in the frame for title

Aug 14 2008 By Tim Channon

FIVE wins in their last six games, including three in a row, has hoisted MOCHDRE in to the thick of the Premier Division title race in the North Wales Cricket League.

They travel to Bethesda this Saturday 11 points behind leaders Menai Bridge and just two behind second-placed Llandudno, who they meet in a crunch game on August bank holiday Monday.

And four of their last five games after this weekend are at home - including three against teams currently in the bottom four.

Their last five games are: Hawarden Park (home), Llandudno (home), Bangor (home), Pontblyddyn (away) and Llanrwst (home).

Mochdre Skipper Phil Dickson says: "We are playing well as a team at the moment, with everybody playing for each other.

"We have put ourselves in a good position but we are not looking to far ahead. We will just concentrate on each game as it comes and see where that takes us."

Mochdre have had to play home games at Rydal for much of the season while ground work was being completed at Black Marsh Field, but the skipper said returning to their home base for the first time last weekend was a boost for everybody and they are looking forward to playing out their remaining home games on their own pitch.

Last Saturday, they restricted Connah's Quay to 83 for 8 after putting them in, with some great bowling in the damp conditions particularly by Gareth Davies (12-4-19-3) and Gareth Goodson, who had extraordinary figures of 10-8-3-2, as Connah’s Quay struggled to 24 for 3 off the first 20 overs.

Adam Campion (13-3-38-2) and Russ Boswell (10-4-17-1) were the other wicket-takers, with only Darren Jones (24), Gareth Jones (24) and Gavin Parry (11 not out) in double figures for the visitors.

Laurance Watson (36 not out) and Gareth Davies (15 not out), put on an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 36, to then steer Mochdre to victory at 86 for 3 in 19.3 overs, after openers Will Evans and Adam Campion both fell cheaply.

More cricket reports and tables in Thursday’s Weekly News.